My World Factbook
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Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Government
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department
NA
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
18 years of age
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held on 17 October 2009 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate’s Court
none
none
none
none (territory of Australia)
none (territory of Australia)
territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
note: as a territory of Australia, “Advance Australia Fair” remains official as the national anthem, while “God Save the Queen” serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)
Military
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
none
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
